Wrestlers from around the area will hit Apollo High School the next two days for the 2nd Region Wrestling Tournament as athletes will vie for a spot in next week’s semi-state tournament, also at AHS.
The host Eagles, along with Daviess County, Owensboro, Owensboro Catholic and Trinity, will be the locals in attendance as the 2nd Region features athletes from as far as Bardstown.
Meade County is the defending champions as the Green Wave grabbed 262 points last season.
Daviess County was the top local finisher from a year ago as the Panthers finished fourth overall with Owensboro taking seventh and Apollo grabbing eighth.
The Owensboro Catholic Aces are new on the scene this season but they’ll send nine wrestlers to the region tournament.
Catholic assistant coach Matt Allen said the Aces are excited to compete and they’ve received a lot of support in their first season.
“We do have several kids who we believe have a great shot at making semi-state,” he said. “Regardless of what happens this weekend, OC Wrestling has a very bright future ahead.”
Allen said this weekend is all about sticking to the fundamentals.
“We need to wrestle our matches and control the pace,” he said. “We have to be aggressive and focus on what we know, the basics. We have to overcome the anxiety of wrestling at regions for the first time and put some kids on their backs”
Owensboro coach Kenny Stone said it’s been a rocky season but the”Red Devils but they’re ready to hit the mat.
“We have been sidelined by weather and Covid since Feb. 6,” he said. “My only fear is starting out slow and having to pick up steam. We have worked within the guidelines to practice as much as we possibly could with the limitations.”
Stone said they have a few wrestlers that could make some noise this weekend.
“We are in a good position to possibly have two or maybe three regional champions this year if everything goes our way,” he said.
Trinity has one wrestler competing this weekend with Mason Mattingly competing at 145 points.
Raider coach Nick Hiatt said Mattingly needs to stay focused on level headed.
“We need to come in confident and prepared,” he said. “It is our coaches first season and we are down to one wrestler for tournament. Mason is only in his second season, but has come out with a winning record. He needs to stick with what he knows and never quit.”
Daviess County’s Caleb Tolson (132), Tyson Sherron (145), Alexander Elmore (152), Conner Tolson (182) and Say Moe (285) go into the tournament with at least 14 wins on the year.
Apollo is led by Jake Ramsey (106), David Gerkin (126), Cameron Baker (170) and Blaize Cart (285).
Local Opening Matches
106
Jack Byrne (Catholic) v Miena Lum (North Hardin)
Luke McLamb (Daviess) v Amari Hardin (John Hardin)
Jake Ramsey (Apollo) v Payton Durbin (Meade County)
113
Aiden McLaughlin (Owensboro) v Leland Reeves (Taylor County)
Ally Newton (Apollo) v Maximus Beltran (Central Hardin)
120
Alex Bowlds (Apollo) v Derrick Beckleyn (Taylor County)
Cameron Devine (Catholic) v Connor Metcalf (LaRue County)
Logan McLamb (Daviess) v Tyler Lattin (Meade County)
126
David Gerkin (Apollo) v Dylan Rodriguez (Meade County)
Andres Quintana (Owensboro) v BYE
Michael Shepard (Catholic) v Devavion Armstart (Central Hardin)
132
Cooper Danzer (Catholic) v Mason Raines (Meade County)
Kaleb Gibson (Apollo) v Kayden Echols (Warren Central)
Caleb Tolson (Daviess) v BYE
138
Rachel Campbell (Apollo) v Mason Polston (Central Hardin)
Lucas Lindblom (Daviess) v Owen Lamer (Taylor County)
Nolan Murphy (Catholic) v Westin Brown (LaRue County)
145
Mason Mattingly (Trinity) v BYE
Gabriel Quintana (Owensboro) v Jacob Dickson (South Warren)
Mason Shephard (Apollo) v Caden Rodriguez (Meade County)
Tyson Sherron (Daviess) v BYE
Laven Wenmoth (Catholic) v Trayton Stargill (Taylor County)
152
Nick Avery (Owensboro) v BYE
Dana Bishop (Apollo) v William Bingham (Greenwood)
Alexander Elmore (Daviess) v BYE
160
Jonah Hinton (Apollo) v Jybari Springs (John Hardin)
Hunter Monroe (Catholic) v BYE
Christopher Palmer (Owensboro) v Tristan Phillips (Daviess)
Tristan Phillips (Daviess) v Christopher Palmer (Owensboro)
170
Cameron Baker (Apollo) v BYE
Todd Riter (Catholic) v Andre Sizemore (Bardstown)
182
Conner Tolson (Daviess) v Levi Harned (LaRue County)
Travis Walker (Apollo) v Jake Stone (Green County)
195
Ethan Berry (Apollo) v Brendan Shannon (Nelson County)
Andrew Brauer (Catholic) v Jaden Pierce (Green County)
220
Logan Palmer (Owensboro) v BYE
Evyn Samples (Daviess) v Carson Mattingly (Nelson County)
Alexander Sapp (Apollo) v Zach Leonard (Meade County)
285
Blaize Cart (Apollo) v Zack Humphrey (Owensboro)
Zack Humphrey (Owensboro) v Blaize Cart (Apollo)
Say Moe (Daviess) v Aaron Goff (Nelson County)
